This Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe is perfect for game day! Easy to make in minutes with basic pantry ingredients – hot wings, honey garlic, or extra crispy, with a secret ingredient! Make them from fresh or frozen!
If you’re looking for the most epic game day recipe that will please a crowd, that’s a slightly healthier choice than restaurant or frozen-section wings, and that’s pretty darn easy to make, we have got your back!
This Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe is one of the BEST. Simple chicken wings (use fresh or frozen), basic spices and other pantry ingredients you probably already have on hand, and your air fryer. That’s it!
And as if that weren’t enough, we’re sharing three varieties of air fryer chicken wings you just HAVE to try: extra crispy (regular), honey garlic, and our favourite hot wings. Trust us, you’re going to LOVE them!!
The secret ingredient to crispy chicken wings contains no calories, and you probably already have it in your pantry right now: baking soda.
We know what you’re thinking – baking soda? Seriously!? Yes. We’re dead serious. A little bit of baking soda goes a long way in this recipe to make these Air Fryer Chicken Wings extra crispy and delicious without any added flour, cornstarch or other ingredient.
Baking soda, when mixed in with the other spices for even distribution over the skin of the wings, quickly activates the browning process while the chicken cooks in the air fryer and helps the wings brown more intensely and evenly. This results in crispier wings in less time. And who wouldn’t want that!?
But be careful! Too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing – too much baking soda can add an unpleasant metallic taste to your crispy chicken wings so be sure to add only the small amount recommended in the recipe!
If you’re following a gluten-free diet or trying to make healthy food choices, chicken wings can present a struggle. Most chicken wings you can buy in the freezer section of your grocery store contain gluten in the batter that makes them crispy, and they often contain a ton of fat, sugar and other high-calorie ingredients.
Making your own chicken wings at home is a great way to enjoy this game day treat minus the gluten and other conventional ingredients. Because this recipe calls for baking soda to help crisp up the wings in the air fryer, instead of flour or other ingredients, you end up with the crispiest wings ever made with simple ingredients and spices you probably already have in your kitchen!
Making these Air Fryer Chicken Wings from frozen is also possible, and pretty simple!
- To start, separate the frozen wings (unseasoned) and if there’s excess ice buildup on your wings rinse them under water and dry them with paper towels.
- Spray the inside of your air fryer with cooking spray. Place the frozen wings inside and air fry for about 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove them from the air fryer and toss them in the spices (as directed in the recipe below). Drain any liquid from the air fryer that was produced by cooking the frozen wings.
- Air fry for another 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Brush with honey (for honey garlic wings) or hot sauce (for hot wings) and air fry for 2 more minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Note: When air frying the wings from frozen, brushing them with hot sauce or honey, or even bbq sauce, for the last 2 minutes of cooking will give a better appearance.
The most important kitchen item to make crispy chicken wings at home is an Air Fryer! Here are some we recommend (affiliate links):
- A great Air Fryer for space-saving (2 quart capacity)
- The perfect Air Fryer for large families with a dual basket feature
- A standard Air Fryer for everyday use (works well for a family of 2 to 4 people)
- A large Air Fryer for everyday use (works well for a family of 2 to 4 people)
Aside from an air fryer, you’ll need these ingredients to make chicken wings (affiliate links):
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If you’ve been gifted an air fryer for the holidays and it’s been sitting on your shelf collecting dust, or if you’ve been thinking about picking up an air fryer for awhile but haven’t yet, we’d HIGHLY recommend getting started. An air fryer is a fantastic kitchen appliance for achieving that oven-crisp or fried texture in a fraction of the time with next to no added fat, and to be honest it’s a kitchen appliance we’d have a hard time living without!
Chicken wings made in the air fryer turn out more crispy than in the oven with a reduced cooking time. Most crispy chicken wings are deep fried, but making them in the air fryer means you can significantly reduce the fat content – making them a much healthier choice than conventional restaurant or freezer-section pre-made wings, AND gluten-free!
- fresh or frozen unseasoned chicken wings
- oil spray
- salt
- baking soda
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- black pepper
- smoked paprika
- additional garlic powder
- liquid honey
- liquid honey
- your favourite hot sauce (we like Sriracha or Frank’s Red Hot)
Time needed: 20 minutes
Follow these tips for the BEST crispy chicken wings made in the air fryer!
- Pat the wings dry.
Use some kitchen paper towel to pat the wings dry before you toss them in the spice mixture. This will remove any excess moisture and help the skin become extra crispy.
- Don’t forget the baking soda.
Add a small amount of baking soda to the spice mixture. This will help the wings become extra crispy and brown evenly as they cook in the air fryer.
- Toss in the spices.
Stir the spices and baking soda together in a bowl and toss the wings in the mixture to coat evenly.
- Air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Choose 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 Celsius) for the crispiest, most deliciously golden brown chicken wings.
- Toss halfway through cooking.
Toss the wings halfway through the cooking time to make sure they brown evenly on all sides.
- Serve immediately.
These chicken wings are best served hot from the air fryer, but if you need to reheat them we recommend reheating in the air fryer for a few minutes to help them become crispy again.
- Brush with sauce, if using.
If you’re making the hot wings or the honey garlic wings, brush the wings with your honey or honey/hot sauce mixture for the the last 8 minutes of cooking. For extra colour, raise the temperature of the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) and air fry for 1-2 minutes more.
What is the secret ingredient to making chicken wings crispy?
Adding a small amount of baking soda to the spice mixture in which you toss the wings before air frying will make the chicken wings extra crispy!
How long to cook chicken wings in air fryer
Cooking chicken wings in the air fryer takes about 15-18 minutes, depending on the air fryer’s size.
How to cook chicken wings in air fryer
Simply season the chicken wings, add them to the air fryer, air fry for 15-18 minutes and shake the basket half-way through cooking to toss the wings.
How long to cook frozen chicken wings in air fryer
Cooking frozen chicken wings in the air fryer takes about 18-20 minutes.
Can I make these air fryer chicken wings ahead of time?
Yes, although the wings are crispiest while they’re hot so it’s best to enjoy immediately. To reheat them, air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5-6 minutes.
Can I make these air fryer chicken wings mild instead of spicy?
Yes! Skip the hot sauce and opt for the extra crispy or honey garlic varieties. You can also replace the hot sauce with barbecue sauce for a barbecue version.
Are these chicken wings gluten-free?
Making gluten-free chicken wings at home is so easy – just skip the flour and add a small amount of baking soda to the spice mixture before air frying. This will result in crispy wings that are also gluten-free.
We hope you love this easy recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite wings flavour for game day? We’d love to know!
Looking for more game day recipes? You’ll LOVE these:
Watch the video below to see exactly how we make this recipe. You can find many more deliciously simple recipe videos on our YouTube channel!
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Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Recipe: Equipment
Recipe: Ingredients
For the extra crispy chicken wings:
- 2 pounds bone-in skin-on chicken wings
- 1 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- cooking spray
For the Honey Garlic Wings, add:
- 1 tsp garlic powder add this to the basic spice mixture if you plan to make the honey garlic version
- 2 tbsp honey
To serve:
- fresh parsley or spring onions
Recipe: Instructions
- Preheat your Air Fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) while you get everything else ready.
- In a small bowl mix together the spices and the baking soda until combined.
- Pat your wings dry with kitchen paper towel and place them in a bowl. Sprinkle the spice mix on the wings and mix well to coat them on all sides.
- Spray the basket of your Air Fryer with cooking spray and place the wings in one layer without overcrowding them.
- Air Fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) for 10 min.
- Shake the basket well or flip the wings and air fry them for 8 more minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
For the honey garlic wings or the hot wings:
- Brush the wings with your honey or honey/hot sauce mixture for the the last 8 minutes of cooking. For extra colour, raise the temperature of the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) and air fry for 1-2 minutes more.
Recipe: Notes
To make with frozen wings:
Preheat your Air Fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) while you get everything ready. Don’t thaw your wings at all. If there’s excess ice buildup on your wings rinse them under water and dry them with paper towels. Separate them from one another, place them in the Air Fryer basket/tray in a single layer and air fry at 400 F (200 C) for 8-10 minutes. Remove them to a bowl with a pair of tongs and discard any liquid at the bottom of your Air Fryer. Toss the wings in the spice mixture and air fry again for another 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You can brush them with honey and/or hot sauce, if desired, and air fry for another 2 minutes.Storage:
These wings will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.Reheating:
Place your wings in your Air Fryer and run it at 350 F (175 C) for 5-6 minutes shaking the basket/tray halfway through cooking.Recipe: Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
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How do I make them extra crispy?
How to Make Crispy Chicken Wings
The secret ingredient to crispy chicken wings contains no calories, and you probably already have it in your pantry right now: baking soda.
We know what you’re thinking – baking soda? Seriously!? Yes. We’re dead serious. A little bit of baking soda goes a long way in this recipe to make these Air Fryer Chicken Wings extra crispy and delicious without any added flour, cornstarch or other ingredient.
Baking soda, when mixed in with the other spices for even distribution over the skin of the wings, quickly activates the browning process while the chicken cooks in the air fryer and helps the wings brown more intensely and evenly. This results in crispier wings in less time. And who wouldn’t want that!?
But be careful! Too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing – too much baking soda can add an unpleasant metallic taste to your crispy chicken wings so be sure to add only the small amount recommended in the recipe!
Thank you for this recipe. I’m so happy that I can create 3 different types of wings in such a short time…and they are so crispy 😍
Thank you for your feedback! We’re always happy to hear our readers enjoy our recipes.
Your recipe made me the most popular at our Super Bowl Potluck! Thanks.
Happy to hear that! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback!